When Providence blesses one with such discrimination, one abandons error and becomes devoted to the good, but under the powerful influence of time or nature or the law of action, even the good, subject to illusion, may deviate from virtue.

But just as Hari’s votaries rectify that error and, eradicating sorrow and weakness, bring glory to them, even so the wicked occasionally perform a noble deed by association with the good, although the never wholly lose their innate indestructible wickedness.

Even those who are imposters are honoured on account of their garb, as the world is taken in by their fair outward show, but in the end they are exposed and do not succeed, like Kalanemi, or Ravana, or Rahu.

The good are honoured, notwithstanding their mean appearance, like jambavan or Hanuman. Bad company is harmful, while good company is an asset in itself; this is a truth known to all and recognized both by the world and by the Vedas.

Through contact with the wind dust rises in the air; if it joins low-flowing water, it becomes mud and sinks. According to the character of the house in which a parrot or maina is trained, it learns either to repeat the name of Rama or to pour a volley of abuses. (In the good man’s house his birds repeat the name of Rama; in the bad man’s house they cease not to abuse).

Evil association turns smoke into soot, but it may make fine ink, and be used even for copying a Purana; while the same smoke when combined with water, fire, and air, becomes an earth-refreshing rain-cloud.

The planets, medicines, water, air, clothes, all are good or bad things according as their company is good or bad; men of judgement can observe this distinction.